Process for refining metal.



J. H. REID. PROCESS FOR BEFINING METAL. nrmonmn mum nov.11, 190a.

Patented May 4, 1909.

11117811 Ton JZH.REID

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JAMES HENRY REID, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

riaocnss "FOR BEFI'NING METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 19 09.

Application filed November 11, 1908. Serial No. 462,167.

, T all whom it may concern:

. it might be rea ily carried out indepen Be it known that I, JAMESHENRY REID, of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, United States ofAmerica, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Processesfor Refining Metal, of which the following is a s ecification.

y invention relates to improvements in processes of refining metal,particularly iron, and the objects of 'my'invention are to provide asimple, cheap andeflective process by means of which steel or otherrefined forms of iron may be produced in a continuous process from theore itself.

In an earlier a p'lication, Serial No. 452,231, I have descri,ed-a-metlrod of-treating metals by gas sucked throu h the same, and thepresent process may e conveniently carriedout as a continuation of thisearlier process, althou h, as will hereinafter appear,

' ently of it.

In carrying out the invention the iron ore ismelted by electric heat andmixed with a reagent, such as carbon or carbon monoxid gas, which willreduce the same and result in th'e' production of carbon monoxid orcarbon dioxidf'gas. The frothy mass of gas and partlyi reducedore isthen laced in a converter which is rotated, an while rotating thesurface is exhausted and if desired, further; reducinggas is forcedthrough the metal. This completes the reduction of the iron oxid and theseparation of the gas therefrom, leaving as a resultant product,

refined iron or steel which may have any suitable hardening substances,such as .nickelf or chromium mixed therewith, as-

hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section of anapparatus used to' car' out the rocess. Fig. 2is a vertical sectionthroug the converter. Fig. 31's a lan of the bottom of the converter.Fig. 4 1s a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 2.

i In the drawings, like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure. Referring to the drawings, A represents the bodyof the furnace, with electrodes B, hopper C and base D, the constructionof the furnace illustrated in my aforesaid earlienapplication.

10 represents a plurality of apertures provided electrodes, throughwhich a gaseous reagent fed to the openin being substantially that shownand in'the walls of the furnace below the may be introduced, the saidreagent being 5 through the conduit 11.

12 re resents t e tap 'hole at the bottom bf the urnace, whichcommunicates with a trough 13 and E represents a rota converter, whichis adapted to rotate a out a vertical axis, this 'bem accomplished inthe embodiment-illustrate by-providing'a lurality of wheels 14 su portedfrom brac ets 1' 5 in the .bottom of -tlie converter and runbeingrotated through the medium of an annular gear 17 on the bottom engaged"b a driving pinion 18, which may be attae ed directly to the shaft 19,of an electricmotor 20, the converter and motor being preferablysupported on a truck F running on tracks 21, whereby it may be moved toand from the furnace. r

An aperture 22 is provided in one side of the converter, near the top,adapted to be closed by a door 23 and an outlet 24 is provided at thetop of the converter, having swiveling connection with a conduit 25, bymeans of which the'surface of the metal in the converter may beexhausted. The converter is also provided with a false bottom 26 belowwhich a gas chamber 27 is formed, communicating with the supply pipe 28by nmg on an annular track 16, the converter means of which gas maybeintroduced, un- I de'r pressure, the said gas chamber 27 communicatingwith the interior of the converter through a plurality of small aertures 32;

To assist the agitation of the metal in the converter, a spiral vane 29is formed on the bottom and a pluralit of inclined vanes 30 are providedcn-the si es.

In carrying out the process in the apparatus 'ust described, the ore tobe treated,

whic for illustration, I will assumeis iron oxid', Fe o is fed into thehopper C. It then drops on to the crucible formed by the convergingelectrodes B and is melted by the 1 action of th'e electric current, thecarbon of the "electrodes effecting a partial reduction ofthe ore. Atthesame time, a reducin gas, such as carbon monoxid is introduce throughthe apertures 10 being drawn about the ore by suctionexerted through asuitable exhaust ipe 31 entering the top of the furnace. is carbonmonoxid gas, melting of the ore, will take oxygen from the same,resultin in the collection of a froth mass of partially reduced ore,together wit carbon monoxid and carbon .dioxid, collecting in the bottomof the furnace. This is during the drawn a short distance from thefurnace and; rapidly rotated, the surface thereof, at the.

then run ofi through the trough 13 into the made without departing fromthe spirit or converter E. The converter'isthen'withsame, time, beingexhausted through the pipe 25. This will result in an intimate mixtureof any carbon monoxid the oxid, leaving carbon dioxid willbe drawn offthrough the pipe 2 5.

.. I If the carbon IIIODOXld gas carried with" the yore intothe'converter, is insufiicientto'redufce" the same, a further quantitymay be introduced by press ure through the pipe 28 "miurn steel isdesired these elements may be introduced to mix with -thev molten metaltherein. 7 At the end of the process, the final 1 product may beWithdrawn through the tap Y ole 33;

- As many changes'could be ,made in the;

above construotion,- and many apparently D widely different embodimentsof myinveiition, within the scope of the claims, could be gas in-themass-'with'the iron oxid; This will reduce? g irh h scope thereof, itis'intended that all matter contained in these'specifications anddrawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a-li'initingsense,

v"What I claim as my invention is 1 .'-Theherein described process ofreducing and refining metal ore which consists in -fi'rst-Iigelting' thelore, "then mixing the same -With carbon monoxid gas to produce a frothymassiof-ga sand Q 1'8,f@.{td 'thel1 rotating said mass and exhausting-.tiljesurface thereof.

' 21 73 v -'(1e K I'1bed process =01 reducing/and refining met-a1 orewhich consists in first-melting the ore;- then mixing the samewithareducing gas to, produce a'frothy mass of (gas and ore, "and'thenrotating said mass an exhausting the surface thereof.

V In witness whereof I have'hereuntoset my hand in-the presence of twoWitnesses.

JAMES HENRY REID.

Witnesses RUSSEL S. SMART, M. GILBERTso

